Draft Day Rumors

[wildo05]

For those doubting that the Celtics could offer a max contract this offseason, Chad Ford just stated in his chat (http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/33085) it is possible. Until Lebron is signed I will not give up this idea! Call me a fool or whatever you life. Danny knows the window has closed. If he can add the second best player in the game why would he shut that door? Makes no sense.

Chris (Boston,MA)


Chad are the Celtics still shopping their pick? What about the rumors about them shopping Kendrick Perkins with the pick? What gives??

Chad Ford  (12:59 PM)


Danny is always aggressive and I think he knows he needs to either supplement his team or tear it down. If someone will take Perkins and his knee problems, he'd do it. I think Danny would trade anyone on their roster, including KG or Rondo, for the right deal. And with Paul Pierce contemplating opting out of his deal and Sheed on the verge or retirement, there are scenarios where Boston is sitting at 20 million in cap room this summer.

[PosImpos]

I'll be pretty mad if Danny trades the 19 for a future draft pick.

The draft makes some gm's turn a little batty. If Danny and co. can swindle some team that thinks it is better than it is and gets a lottery pick or equal pick next year in a better draft, then more power to them. I trust their player evaluation and if they aren't enamored with anyone on the board at 19: go for it. Sucks for the fans, but you can't make business decisions with the fans' immediate reaction in mind.

This draft is as deep as it gets and the Celtics need to start getting younger now.  The only way trading for a future pick would make sense is if Danny believes the pick he's getting is going to be a much higher pick.  It seems pretty unlikely to me that he could have that kind of certainty.

[Who]

So do we have the ability to take advantage of any of these cap related deals?

Sheed retiring should give us the ability to.

Sheed has not retired yet ... hence, the Celtics have no expiring contracts outside of Paul Pierce and cannot be involved in any of these salary dumps.

In a few weeks, maybe Sheed officially does it, and at that point the Celtics can get involved in whatever remains. But not now, not on draft day. At this point Sheed has a hugely negative $13 million two year contract.

[The Walker Wiggle]

From Chad Ford's chat today:

Chris (Boston,MA)

Chad are the Celtics still shopping their pick? What about the rumors about them shopping Kendrick Perkins with the pick? What gives??
Chad Ford  (12:59 PM)

Danny is always aggressive and I think he knows he needs to either supplement his team or tear it down. If someone will take Perkins and his knee problems, he'd do it. I think Danny would trade anyone on their roster, including KG or Rondo, for the right deal. And with Paul Pierce contemplating opting out of his deal and Sheed on the verge or retirement, there are scenarios where Boston is sitting at 20 million in cap room this summer.

EDIT - Anyone think there's a chance that Danny has told Pierce he's gonna rebuild and therefore expects Pierce to leave?

I'm not ready.

[bobdelt]

NBA draft.net.

A league source has told us the Pacers and Bulls are discussing a deal that would send Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick to Indiana for the 10th pick and possibly some salary relief to even out the deal. The Pacers are supposedly  targeting Gordon Hayward at 17.

LB's dream of the Indiana All-Whites coming true.

[Eddie20]

I think the 20M cap room that he refers to is if we renounce every FA, PP doesn't not take the option year, Sheed retires, and Perk is traded for a pick without getting a contract in return. That would leave only KG, Rondo, and Davis under contract, which leaves about 25M left for draft picks, minimum salary cap holds, and one big signing.

[MF Doom]

The more I see/read of him, the more intriguing Jordan Crawford looks. He might be one of the top one on one scorers in this draft. I'd be happy if we take either him or Terrico White if we decide to trade down for Memphis picks

[libermaniac]

If he can add the second best player in the game why would he shut that door?

2nd best player?  I'd take LeBron over Kobe in a second.  Kobe and his clutch 6-24 shooting in the biggest game of his life, just doesn't impress me as much as Bron.

[MF Doom]

If he can add the second best player in the game why would he shut that door?

2nd best player?  I'd take LeBron over Kobe in a second.  Kobe and his clutch 6-24 shooting in the biggest game of his life, just doesn't impress me as much as Bron.

I highly doubt Lebron would want to play for Boston. We probably hurt his feelings after chanting "New York Knicks" right before we eliminated him from the playoffs..

[The Walker Wiggle]

Adrian Wojnarowski

Rod Thorn "doesn't love" Nets draft spot now and open for right bid to move down, sources say. "He's fine with sliding back," source says.

[paintitgreen]

I just think they take one more shot with essentially the same group. I can't see getting any sort of value for Garnett, who HAS to be traded if this team is gonna start rebuilding now. His salary is too high for production that has been on a steady decline and a questionable knee. He could very well be much better next season than he was this past season, but I can't see anybody trading value for him based on that hope.

And if his salary is still here, we definitely don't have enough cap space to make a really good offer to any star, since to do so, we'd have to have Sheed retire (uncertain), Pierce opt out (does he really walk away from $21.5 million?) AND renounce the rights to Pierce, Ray, TA and Nate such that we couldn't keep any of those guys to play on the perimeter - we wouldn't even have an MLE in that scenario so we couldn't even get replacements.

I suppose we could let all those guys go and use about $20 million to divvy among 4-5 different players, then sign 3-5 guys at minimum salaries and keep payroll down at about $55-60 million. But what kind of talent do you think you're gonna get divvying $20 million among 4-5 guys and grabbing a bunch of minimum contracts? I guarantee it's not the kind of talent that's gonna help the team in the long run since young free agents get overpaid. And it DEFINITELY won't be enough talent to keep the team in contention this season when your returning roster consists solely of Rondo, KG, Davis and an injured Perk.

Isn't the team just better served keeping Ray (give him more money to get him to take less years), Pierce, maybe even TA and Nate Robinson? Then wait to see if Sheed will retire so you can accept a salary dump trade to get a backup point or wing or a center?

I think it's premature to plan on trading Sheed to a team dumping salary until he confirms he's retiring and not seeking a $6-10 million buyout - he's owed $13 over the next two seasons. Maybe after a month off his back won't be in such pain and he'll look at a chance to start for the Celtics next season with Perk out for at least a while following surgery. Who knows? Until Sheed or his agent publicly says "I'm retiring," I'm not expecting the $13 million windfall. I'm hoping for it, but not expecting it.

The Celtics just can't rebuild right now without unloading KG. And it will be much like Ray Allen trade talks during the season - what you can get in return is not worth what you lose.

[paintitgreen]

Sheed has not retired yet ... hence, the Celtics have no expiring contracts outside of Paul Pierce and cannot be involved in any of these salary dumps.

In a few weeks, maybe Sheed officially does it, and at that point the Celtics can get involved in whatever remains. But not now, not on draft day. At this point Sheed has a hugely negative $13 million two year contract.

Exactly. TP.

[rickyfan3.0...]

Could we buy a couple of these picks up for grabs and trade them for a Top 5 pick? Does it work like that?

[FallGuy]

Could we buy a couple of these picks up for grabs and trade them for a Top 5 pick? Does it work like that?

Nobody would give up a top-5 pick for the picks being offered for sale. Outside of the top 5 or so picks, it's rare to get hold of a superstar. The thinking is that this particular draft is maybe 3-5 deep on superstars.

To get up to the top of the lottery you'd need some combo of picks, cap relief, good players or a willingness to take on bad contracts.

[PosImpos]

Doesn't even matter guys, the Heat are gonna get 2-3 max free agents and dominate the NBA for the next 5 years or so.